Can opener for a can having a tear strip



June 24, 1958 G. NAEKEL 2,840,263

CAN OPENER FOR A CAN HAVING A TEAR STRIP Filed Jan. 13, 1956 INVENTOR. L 60 6. Ala ek e Z vHOmIahm United States Patent 2,840,263 CAN OPENER FOR A CAN HAVING A TEAR srmr LeoGr Naekel, Valley City, N. Dak.

Application January 13, 1956, Serial No. 559,079

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) The present invention relates to a can opener for opening cans of the type having a tear strip incorporated in the shoulder of the top of the can.

An object of the present invention is to provide a can opener for opening cans of the type having a tear strip which is easy to attach to the tear strip without tipping or turning over of the can and without bringing the can to the level of the users eye so that the attachment of the can opener to the tear strip may be observed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a can opener for opening cans of the type having a tear strip which will discharge the tear strip when wound up and torn from the can without the necessity of handling the tear strip.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a can opener for opening cans of the type having a tear strip having a means for permitting the can to rotate freely upon a surface while it is being opened, and having a means for prying the soldered end of the tear strip away from the can after the rest of the tear strip has been wound on the can opener.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a can opener for opening cans of the type having a tear strip of simple, durable construction, one having only one moving part, and one which is economical to manufacture and assemble.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the can opener of the present invention,

Figure 2 is an elevational view, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the can opener of the present invention comprises a hori zontally disposed frame having one end 11 adapted to rest upon the top of a can to be opened, the can being indicated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive by the reference numeral 12. A handle 13 projects from the other end 14 of the frame 10. A U-shaped bracket 15 is arranged so that its legs 16 and 17 are in vertical spaced relation and the bracket 15 is positioned within the frame 10 with its bight 18 adjacent to and fixedly secured to the end 11 of the frame 10 and with the legs 16 and 17 facing the a handle 13.

The lower leg 16 is positioned above the lower face of the frame 10 and a vertically-disposed shaft 19 has its intermediate portion rotatably supported in the legs 16 and 17 of the bracket 15. The lower end of the shaft 19 is provided with a slot 21 extending inwardly thereof adapted to receivably engage the free end portion '22 of a tear strip 23 which extends around the can 12 adjacent its upper end and is incorporated in the shoulder of the can 12.

A crank 24 is on the upper end of the shaft 19 for effecting the rotation of the shaft 19 to strip 23 thereon. 7

Means is provided for preventing the swinging movewind the tear ment of the can 12 relative to the frame 10 when'the the portion of the frame 10 adjacent the bracket 15, the boss 25 having a portion projecting below the frarne 10;

One end of the projecting portion of the boss 25 is curved as indicated by the reference numeral 26 and is adapted to bear against the periphery of the can top to prevent such swinging movement of the can. 1 a

The shaft 19 is provided with a groove 27 receiving a split collar 28 so that the shaft 19 cannot move downwardly farther than the position shown in full lines in Figure 3 nor upwardly farther than the position shown in dotted lines in that figure, the shaft being slidable in the legs of the bracket so as to discharge from the slotted end of the shaft the tear strip coil when the tear strip is wound upon the shafts slotted end portion.

It is an important feature of the present'invention that the portions of the shaft 19 adjacent the lower end of the slot 21 are tapered outwardly to form a point on each of the portions. This point is indicated by the reference numeral 29 in Figure 2 and forms a means by which the free end portion 22 of the tear strip 23 is pried away from its normal position closely following the curvature of the can 12. The open structure of the frame 10 and handle 13 permits the manipulation of the shaft to pry the free end portion 22 of the tear strip 23 away from the can 12 while observing the action of the shaft and its point 29 without the necessity of tipping or turning of the can 12 and without the necessity of raising the can to the level of the users eye so that his operation may be observed.

Itis obvious in the use of the can opener of the present invention that the sharp edges of the tear strip need never be touched by the user either to pry the free end portion 22 away from the can or to remove the tear strip coil from the shaft after it has been wound thereon. In use, can 12 is supported upon a table or other surface indicated in Figure 2 by the reference numeral 30 with one hand of the user supporting the handle and the other hand of the user manipulating the crank 24, winding the tear strip on the shaft 19. When the tear strip is entirely wound on the shaft 19 and broken away from the can, the shaft 19 is pulled upwardly to dislodge the coiled tear strip from the shaft.

What is claimed is:

1. A can opener for removing a tear strip from a can comprising a horizontally-disposed frame having one end adapted to rest upon the top of a can to be opened, a handle projecting from the other end of said frame, a U- shaped bracket arranged so that its legs are in vertical spaced relation positioned within said frame with its bight adajcent to and fixedly secured to said one end of said frame and the legs facing said handle, the lower leg being above the lower face of said frame, a vertically disposed shaft having its intermediate portion rotatably supported in the legs of said bracket, the lower end of said shaft having a slot extending inwardly thereof adapted to receivably engage the free end portion of a tear strip of a can to be opened, a crank on the upper end of said shaft, and means embodying an upstanding boss arranged on one side of and spaced from said shaft and operatively connected to said frame and having the lower end portion adapted to bear against the periphery of the can top to prevent swinging movement of the can relative to said frame when said crank is turned to wind said tear strip on said shaft, said shaft being slidable. upwardly and downwardly in the legs of said bracket so as to discharge from said slotted end the tear strip coil when wound thereon.

2., Acan opener for removing a tear strip fronraL'ca-n comprising a horizontally-disposed frame having'one end.

adapted to rest upon the top of a can'to-be-opencie handle projecting from the otherflend of said frame, a U-shaped bracket arranged so that its legs are in vertical spaced relation positioned within said frame with its bight adjacent to and fixedly secured to said one end of said frame and the legsfacingtsaid handle, the lower leg being 1 above the lower face of said frame, averticallyrdisposed shaft having its intermediate portion rotatably supported in the legs of said bracket, the lower ,endof said shaft having a slot extending inwardly therefrom adapted to receivably engage the free end portion of a tear strip. of a can to be opened, a crank on the upper end ,of said shaft, and means embodying an upstanding boss arranged on one side of and spaced from said shaft and operatively 4 i 1 connected to said frame and having the lower end portion adapted to bear against the periphery of the can top to prevent swinging movement of the can relative to said frame when said crank is turned to wind said tear strip on said shaft, said shaft being slida ble upwardly and downwardly in the legs of said bracket so as to discharge from said slotted end the tear stripcoil when Wound thereon, each of the portions of said shaft adjacent the lower end of said slot being tapered outwardly to form a point.

Reterences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,445,905 Nefi Feb. 20, 1923 2,140,151 Dazz Dec. 13, 1938 2,723,046 Reeves Nov. 8, 1955 2,738,098 Reed Mar. 13, 1956 2,738,099 Knutson Mar. 13, 1956 1,758,745 Millhouse' Aug. 14, 1956 

